North Burnett Region

Quick Facts

Leading citrus industry established in 1892. Responsible for about half of the citrus output for Qld.

Gayndah, settled in 1849, is the oldest town in Qld.

Gold discovered in the 1880s and paved the way for settlement.

Situated in the north-western corner of the thriving Wide Bay Burnett Region, the North Burnett is well-known for its strengths in agriculture,specifically fruit production and livestock production and also its, timber industry, manufacturing, mining, and food and beverage processing.

The North Burnett is located in the northern catchment of the Burnett River and is approximately four hours drive north of Brisbane and one hour west of Bundaberg. The region encompasses six main townships - Biggenden, Eidsvold, Gayndah, Monto, Mt Perry and Mundubbera which service around twenty-five villages and farming catchments.
There is much to bring visitors to the North Burnett region with rugged landscapes, healthy waterways, historical trails and sites, a window into the workings of rural communities and wonderful friendly people.

Towns in North Burnett

Biggenden

Craggy blue mountain ranges are a backdrop for Biggenden, known as 'the Rose of the Burnett' due to the towns impressive range of roses in the main street. Biggenden was founded in 1889 as a service centre to the short-lived goldrush towns of Paradise and Shamrock; and for coach passengers travelling west from Maryborough. The township, including the intriguingly named Live And Let Live Inn, moved to a new location alongside the railway station when the rail line arrived in 1891.

Along with agricultural pursuits - beef, grain crops, piggeries, peanuts, dairying, citrus and timber - the area is rich in minerals. Some of the other local industries include a livestock selling centre, domestic meatworks and engineering works. The township is surrounded by open pastures offering views of the surrounding ranges.

The district also contains two of Queensland's relatively undeveloped National Parks - Mount Walsh and Coalstoun Lakes National Parks - and large tracks of forest at Mount Woowoonga. Mount Walsh offers short walks to the peak's base, with more strenuous walks to the bare granite summit for experienced bushwalkers. Multi-day hikes over rugged terrain offer a true wilderness experience. Coongara Rock and falls also provides excellent mountaineering and views, best accessed by four wheel drive.

If watersports is your thing, Biggenden is also home to Paradise Dam. Opened in 2005, Paradise Dam is about 30 Minutes north-west of Biggenden on the Burnett River. The 300,000ML dam, which submerges the former gold mining town of Paradise is the perfect place for camping, skiing & kayaking. Artifacts and Buildings removed from Paradise before the dam wall was built are now on display by the Biggenden Historical Society.

Eidsvold

Eidsvold, the beef capital of the Burnett, is named for “Eidsvold Station”, a nearby property that was named by Thomas Archer who immigrated to Australia from 'Eidsvoll' in Norway in 1848. The Archers were the first white men to set foot in this part of the country where indigenous communities lived well before European settlement and continue to rediscover their traditions today with a strong presence.

Gold was discovered in Eidsvold in the 1850’s but significant mining only began with the rush in 1887 when Eidsvold became a populous centre for miners. Mining did not initiate a long boom and pastoral interests grew in the 1890’s. With regular fortnightly cattle sales at the live weight selling complex, Cattle production is the backbone of this rural economy today. Other industries include, timber, citrus, vegetable crops and siltstone mining.

The RM Williams Australian Bush Learning Centre can be found in Eidsvold and is also the visitor information centre. This centre is dedicated to preserving the regions unique bush culture and sharing Aboriginal cultural experiences and artifacts. Other Sites of interest include the Eidsvold Historical Complex, Tolderodden Environmental Heritage Park, Alice Maslen’s hitching rail, a World War II inland defence road to Cracow and historic Eidsvold Station. Wuruma Dam nearby also offers camping, fishing and other water recreation.

Gayndah

At the heart of Queensland's Citrus Country, Gayndah, settled in 1849, is the oldest town in Queensland and was once in the running at the new state capital. Sheep and mining brought settlers into the area, but it was the climate, rich volcanic and alluvial soils and plenty of sunshine that set the area up as a prime citrus growing centr, makingIt popular during the cooler months of May to August with fruit pickers. Upon entering Gayndah you can’t miss the Big Orange and a little further on the other side of town you will find the Gaypak Factory where the unique machinery is fascinating to watch from the viewing platform and you can see how they prepare and pack Australia’s best mandarins and citrus.

Gayndah offers an authentic country experience with a variety of relaxing and interesting attractions. The Gayndah Historical Museum, straddling both sides of Simon Street, was developed around an old 1864 Georgian cottage. The Gayndah Museum Steam Days showcase the attention paid to maintaining the past and are held regularly throughout the year on selected days. The Gleneden Bullock Team can be found about 15 minutes from Gayndah and is a rare example of a traditional Australian working bullock team.

Gayndah was the headquarters of the first Queensland Race Club and Queensland’s first Derby was run here in 1868. Gayndah Racecourse was also home to the North Australian Jockey Club and is where the first Ladies Side Saddle Race was run in 1880. Now home of the Gayndah Jocky Club the track is still in regular use today and hosts regular race meetings.

The area's undulating countryside offers several lookouts including Archer's Lookout, Binjour Lookout, McConnell Lookout at Mt Debateable and Mt Gayndah - with views over the citrus orchards, Burnett River Valley and rural countryside.

Monto

It is thought that the name Monto was derived from an Aboriginal word describing ridgy plains. First settled in 1924 as a result of the goldfields of Cania and Monal, Monto is situated on a plateau of gentle hills and wide panoramas and often receives some if the coldest overnight temperatures in Queensland.

The town has a historical museum highlighting the mining, dairy and timber industry of the area and restored buildings from the 1930s and 1950s give the town a charming rural feel while still featuring many facilities of a modern city.

Nearby you will find Cania Gorge National Park featuring towering sandstone cliffs, gorges caves and amazing walks. You will also find Lake Cania and the Kalpowar State Forest, providing a Four Wheel Driving paradise. Nearby Mungungo features a winery offering cellar door sales and ancient fossilised coral reefs now appear as a low series of rolling hills east of Monto.

Mount Perry

First settled in the 1840’s, Mount Perry is a historically significant town nestled in a valley under the mountain of which it was named. Dominated by the peak of Mount Perry rising 750 metres above the township, historic buildings and remnants of the town copper mining past can still be seen today. Founded on mining and the timber industry, Gold mining continues to be an important industry in the area today.

While the popular Mount Perry Races remains a fixture on the calendars of many people in the area, Mount Perry is also becoming known for its vineyards and olive groves, with the Wonbah Winery offering tastings and cellar door sales. Scenic hikes take keen bushwalkers to the summit of Mount Perry and nearby Goodnight Scrub National Park offer scenic vistas and wilderness camping via unsealed roads.

Mundubbera

Built on the bank of the Burnett River and settled in the 1840’s, Mundubbera is recognised as the citrus capital of Queensland with the first citrus orchard planted in 1933 and is also the largest producer of table grapes. Between April and September, orchids come into full production and become colourful with ripening fruits and an influx of workers. Grapes, stone fruit, nuts, cattle grazing, dairying and pig rearing are important industries.

Mundubbera means either ‘’Footsteps in the trees’’ or ‘’Meeting Place of the waters’’ in the local Aboriginal language. The latter name refers to the confluence of the Burnett, Auburn and Boyne rivers just upstream from Mundubbera and home to the Queensland Lungfish (known locally as Ceratodus).

Mundubbera also has a unique industry, an insectary! 'Bugs for Bugs' produce beneficial predatory bugs for crops and agriculture, cutting down the need for chemical sprays. Other attractions include the Historical Museum, 'Meeting Place of the Waters' 360 degrees mural, Jones Weir, agricultural and horticultural tours and the 'Enormous Ellendale' which is a giant mandarin adding to Queensland's collection of giant-sized icons.

The Auburn River National Park, at the intersection of the Auburn, Boyne and Burnett Rivers, features a wild and impressive river channel of huge boulders and water-worn rock formations. The park offers a basic camping with facilities.